Knitting Daily : knitscene

Interweave Knits Accessories Preview!

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Remember that hilarious line from the movie Steel Magnolias: "the only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize"? Well, our new special interest publication, Interweave Knits Accessories, is a collection of patterns that'll keep you from becoming an animal for years and years!

With more than 60 favorite projects (at about 25 cents per pattern!) from the pages of Knits, KnitScene, and Interweave books, Interweave Knits Accessories is packed with patterns. You'll find pages and pages of scarves, hats, socks, gloves, and mittens—quick projects to go with everything in your wardrobe.

I love small projects because you can practice your skills on a small scale, perhaps challenging yourself a little here and there! And in today's economy, we could all use a couple of one- or two-skein projects, right? Shop your stash to find yarn for many of the patterns in Interweave Accessories.

You'll also get several popular "Back to Basics" tutorials, such as Finishing Details, Circular Knitting, Getting Started with Socks, and the Grand Plan Mitten Chart (I'm going to check this one out ASAP!).

Here are some of my favorite projects:


Koolhaas Hat	Forbes Forest	Orenburg Lace Triangle
Jared Flood	Kathy Zimmerman	Galina Khmeleva

I've admired the Koolhaas Hat since it debuted in the first issue of Interweave Knits Gifts, so I think it's about time to make one! I like the unisex appeal of this hat, and Jared Flood's designs are always a pleasure to knit. Forbes Forest is also a great unisex design, one that will work equally well with a fancy coat or a down vest. The Orenburg Lace Triangle is so beautiful—I love a stylish shawl, and this one is timeless.


Sideways Grand Hat	Subway Mittens	Citrine Socklets
Laura Irwin	Colleen Meagher	Marilyn Webster

The Sideways Grand Hat is a wonderful blend of fashion-forward and vintage style. This is one that looks good on many face shapes. You'll love the handy pocket in Subway Mittens, whether you need a spare subway token or an extra quarter for the parking meter! I love anklets, and the Citrine Socklets are cozy, pretty, and comfortable. They're designed with a beautiful silk-merino yarn, too, one that'll keep your tootsies warm throughout the winter.

So check out the preview for all of these projects and many, many more! I know you'll enjoy this wonderful collection as much as I do.

Cheers,

Kathleen

P.S. Glove update! Thanks to all of you who chimed in on my yarn choices for the gloves I'm making. More than 400 of you commented! I ended up choosing the Koigu because of several comments about the wearablilty. Votes-wise, I think the Malabrigo came in first, followed by the lost-tag green, then the Koigu. I weighed the green, and I was afraid I didn't have enough to make both gloves—wouldn't that be awful?! I have a dim memory of making a pair of baby booties and a hat from that green . . . So, Koigu it is! I've cast on and I'll post photos as I go. Thanks again for making this so much fun!

The Freyja Sweater: A Custom Knit

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

A Note From Kathleen: A few weeks ago, Knitscene editor and Interweave Knits Senior Editor Lisa Shroyer blogged about upsizing the Freyja pullover from the fall issue of Knits. Her post has so much great information that I wanted to put it out to the masses. So, Masses, here's Lisa with some tips on upsizing this lovely Bohus pullover. Enjoy!

Freyja Checks In

For the Fall issue of Interweave Knits, Courtney Kelley designed the Freyja Sweater, a feminine, contemporary take on the traditional Bohus pullover.

In the gallery of the Freyja Sweater, both Gallery Girls wear this sweater well, and as you'll see, it also looks great in larger sizes on larger women. The overall look is understated—knitterly, elegant, casual. This is one of those designs that many women can wear, regardless of size or shape.

At first glance, the Freyja Sweater has some points against it for the Rubenesque woman—it's a seamless yoke, which often creates a lot of visual roundness and crowds the throat with a high crew neckline. And the Freyja has a graphically patterned yoke, which usually draws the eye to the widest part of the upper body—the circumference around the upper arms, upper back, and bust. Patterned yokes often cut right across the bust, which is not attractive on large-busted women.

But Courtney made some excellent tweaks to the traditional here. Her Freyja yoke is not a true seamless; the shaping begins with raglan decreases—not unheard of in the Bohus tradition by any means, but that's a different discussion!

There is a diagonal line of decreases between the sleeves and body at four points. This continues, in just main-color stockinette, for a few inches before the colorwork begins. Raglan shaping creates a more tailored line than seamless yoke shaping, which decreases concentrically around the upper body. The raglan "seams" create definition at each side of the bust, which makes for a flattering fit.

The other decision Courtney made was to begin the colorwork well above the bust line. The patterning here is more neckline decoration than yoke decoration. The pattern draws the eye up, and by not falling over the bust or upper arm, does not highlight those round spots for us. Once the colorwork begins, the shaping occurs in pattern, concentrically like a seamless yoke. The neckline is low and wide, which allows some skin to show along the collarbone.

A Star Sweater Is Born

I made this pullover in my own size, 44" bust. With a plain lower body, it's easy to customize the shaping in this design. I created a long A-line silhouette, since the typical hourglass waist is not flattering on my pear shape. I cast on for the size 46" and then decreased gradually down to the numbers for the 44" at the bust, and the yoke and sleeves follow the directions for the 44". I chose my own colors in the lustrous Road to China Light from The Fibre Company:

MC: amethyst
CC1: grey pearl
CC2: autumn jasper
CC3: citrine
CC4: malachite

With ten sizes in this pattern, the Freyja Sweater can work for you, too.

Let's knit for us,

Lisa

The Magical Magic Loop

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:00:00 GMT

I started knitting circular objects—socks, gloves, mittens, hats, and so on—on double-pointed needles (DPNs). While I enjoyed knitting the pattern, I didn't particularly like the finished object because I always ended up with ladders where I switched from one needle to the next. I guess I wasn't knitting those stitches tight enough, but as much as I tried to tighten them, the ladders remained. And who likes to think about tightening stitches all the time, anyway?

Because of this problem, I simply didn't do as many "tube projects" as I wanted to.

Enter the Magic Loop! I was at my LYS one Saturday afternoon and I saw a gal knitting a sock on the oddest looking contraption with loops sticking out of each end of the knitted sock. I asked her about it and she said she was using the Magic Loop method—which uses just one, long circular needle. I quickly found a class on this technique, thinking that I might enjoy it more than DPNs. I was right—the Magic Loop brought me back to sock knitting!

Now I use this method for almost all of my small, circular knitting projects. I also teach it when I teach sock classes. The students get two classes, really: sock knitting and the Magic Loop technique!

And Now, a Lesson for You

Most people really take to the Magic Loop method, so I thought I'd share a lesson with you, too. It just takes a few rounds to become familiar with the process and by the time you're halfway through the leg of a sock, you'll be a pro.

I recommend at least a 32-inch circular needle for socks and a 40-inch needle for hats, baby sweaters, and other larger-circumference projects. (The neat thing about using the Magic Loop for hats is that you don't need to change to DPNs to finish the crown.)

A Note About Circular Needles: Your knitting life will be so much easier if you relax the cable of your circular needle before you begin knitting. I do this by microwaving a large mug of water for a couple minutes, dipping the cable into the hot water for about 30 seconds, and then straightening it out and running it under cold water for a few seconds until it's cool. You can also steam the cable, or if you're using a metal needle, you can boil a little water in a skillet and put the whole thing in. It's amazing to watch it loosen up! Be sure and use hot pads or tongs, though, because that metal gets hot!

Here we go, step by step!

Step 1
On a circular needle at least 32 inches long, cast on the required number of stitches (I've cast on 40 stitches). Slide the stitches onto the cable part of the needle.

Step 2
Hold the needle so that your working yarn (and tail) is to your right. Bend the left part of the needle toward you slightly (but don't put a crimp in it!), making sure the bend is halfway through the total number of stitches—so, if you've cast on 40, bend the cable between the 20th and 21st stitches (photo 2a). Grasp the cable and pull it out of the stitches until your stitches are on the needle portions of the circlular needle; you'll have half your stitches on one needle and half on the other needle (photo 2b).

IMPORTANT TIP: Make sure that your working yarn is hanging off of the back needle. What's the back needle? If you hold your needles parallel to each other, the "front" needle is the one nearest you and the "back" needle is the one farthest from you. If your yarn is hanging off your front needle, slide your stitches back onto the cable and divide them again, this time making sure the working yarn ends up at the back. If you start with your working yarn and tail to your right and bend the left end of the cable needle towards you, your working yarn should end up on the correct needle.

Step 3
Make sure your stitches aren't twisted: all of the stitches should be "hanging" downward; the cast-on edge sits at the top of the needle. (Some people like to place a marker to mark the beginning of the round, but I just use the yarn tail as my marker.) Slide the stitches on the back needle to the cable part of the needle, thereby freeing up the back needle. This back needle is now your right-hand needle—you'll be knitting onto it just as if you were using straight needles (photo 3).

Step 4
Knit the stitches on your first needle (photo 4a). When you've knit to the end of the needle, you've knitted half a round (photo 4b, and in this photo the back needle is the needle showing on the bottom). Turn the needles so both tips are pointed to the right and slide the now-front needle into the stitches that are on the cable (photo 4c).

Step 5
Slide the now-back needle out of the stitches that you just knit so that those stitches end up on the cable. You're now ready to knit the second half of the round.

And that's it! You keep switching sides, pushing the stitches on the cable onto the front needle, and pulling the back needle out of the previously knit stitches. Remember that you need to knit both sides of the work to complete one round.

Some Pattern Ideas

I'm recommending three sock patterns here and one sock and mitt pattern. These are lovely patterns in general, but also good patterns for practicing your Magic Loop technique. Once you're two to four inches into one of these projects, you'll be Magic Looping without even thinking about it.

His and Hers Socks by Ann Budd. This is a good advanced-beginner project, with options for men's and women's socks. Ann Budd is a sock pro, so you'll be happy with any pattern by her, but because of the two versions this one is particularly valuable.

Knotty or Knice Socks by Chrissy Gardiner. This is an intermediate, toe-up sock pattern. I love the twisted stitch pattern on these socks—it's a Bavarian pattern but it almost looks Celtic to me. The Magic Loop works equally well with top-down socks and toe-up socks.

Rustic Ruffled Socks and Mitts by Ann Budd. This is also a toe-up pattern, with the added challenge of short-row heels (these heels are easy, really, and fun to work). You'll get a nice, simple sock pattern with a touch of romance in the ruffle, as well as a simple but useful mitt pattern. Who wouldn't like a set of these?

Comfy Socks by the Knitscene Design Team. This is an easy, free pattern knit from bulky-weight yarn (it's also one of 5 free patterns in our free downloadable eBook, 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns). These socks are perfect for fall lounge-around-the-house-days. And they knit up really quickly, too!

Have fun practicing your Magic Loop technique!

Cheers,

Kathleen

P.S. Special thanks to Sarah Hauschka, who invented the Magic Loop method, and to Bev Galeskas and Fiber Trends, who published the first book on the subject.

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7 Free Knit Cardigan Patterns!

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

I can already feel a chill in the air at night—a sure sign that fall is approaching. And what could be better to ward off that chill than a cardigan sweater? It can be thrown on over a tee shirt and worn open or it can be buttoned up under a blazer if it's a little chillier. In fact, its versatility is one of the best parts of a knit cardigan—you can wear it any way you need to, under or over, open or closed, dressed up or dressed down.

In our new free eBook, Knit Cardigan Patterns from Knitting Daily: 7 Free Knitting Patterns, Knitting Daily contributing editor Sandi Wiseheart has pulled together seven classic knit cardigan patterns from Interweave resources like Knitscene, Interweave Knits, and the Interweave Store.

We think each of the cardigans in this eBook are stand-outs in their class. Here's what Sandi has to say about her choices for the patterns in this free eBook:

The Katharine Hepburn Jacket by Kathy Zimmerman combines classy 1950s styling with a year-round blend of lace and tiny cables. The Amber Beaded Cardigan by Michele Rose Orne offers deceptively simple lace knitting in a flattering silhouette. (The beads are optional and sewn on after the knitting is done-clever!)

Then there's the Aran Duffle Coat by Judith L. Swartz, which from its cabled hood and lovely Aran cables to its big front pockets and deep ribbed cuffs, is a joy to snuggle into on a blustery winter's day. The Refined Aran Jacket by Pam Allen, a knitter's favorite since it first came out, is equally at home over a skirt in the office or over jeans out shopping.

In the Sienna Cardigan by Ann E. Smith, a classic V-neck cardigan shape is set off by a band of cabled lace down each front and an unusual picot-edged collar. The Side-Way Ribs Cardigan by Norah Gaughan is a quick, easy knit with thick yarn and big needles. Each piece starts at the cuff and ends at the center for a fun (and fashionable!) sideways project.

Finally, the Curry Cabled Cardigan by Cathy Payson shows off rivers of wide and narrow cables in graceful, flattering vertical "stripes" in a cozy classic sweater.

This is a wonderful and varied collection of cardigans—which is one of the most important pieces in your wardrobe. You'll want to make every one of these knit cardigan patterns, so download your free eBook now and get started!

Cheers,

Kathleen

The Knit-a-Long Post (Plus the Kitchener Stitch and a Free Pattern!)

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Monkey Socks: Wrap-Up

Our first knit-a-long was a great success! When I started this knit-a-long back on July 1, I wasn't sure how it would go. I'm thrilled that Monkey Socks by Cookie A. were knit by about 20 people and to date there are 241 thoughts shared on the forum.

I'm so happy that so many of you knit the sock with me and took the time to share your tips and tricks along the way. We really created a nice community, didn't we? I'm especially glad this knit-a-long filled a knitting group need many of you have--sometimes it's hard to find knitting groups for a variety of reasons, and I'm glad you all found us! We learned about Judy and her RVing lifestyle, and we admired Terry's beautiful Jitterbug blue colorway, and we shared tips about knitting different heels and some lace tricks, too. I had a fabulous time with you all, and since I've only knit one sock so far, the fun will continue.

Here are a few photos of finished socks:

Free Slipper Pattern and a How-to Video about the Kitchener Stitch

For those of you still working on your socks, I thought you'd like a video tutorial on the Kitchener Stitch (also known as grafting). This is one of those things that I have to look up every time I do it, so here's a reference for you, too! (If you're more of a picture person than a video person, get yourself a copy of The Knitter's Companion by Vicki Square. This little book has lots of technique help, including the Kitchener stitch.)

(Please visit the site to view this media)

This segment is from Knitting Daily TV episode #208. If you missed any of season 2, order the DVD here!

And Now . . . the New Knit-a-Long!

Yep, it's a landslide victory for the Central Park Hoodie (1838 votes, 49.2% of total votes). YAHOO!!

I hope I didn't unduly influence you, but if I did, THANKS FOR VOTING FOR THE HOODIE! My beautiful pink Tahki Donegal Tweed thanks you, too. The Every Way Wrap came in second, followed by the Falling Leaves Scarf, the Diagonal Rib Socks, and the Feminine Mittens.

The original Hoodie is in the fall 2006 issue with sizing up to 48" bust. For those who need the plus-size version, purchase the pattern with the complete size range exclusively at the Interweave Store. Here's a quick summary of the project:

Finished Size: Sizes 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60)" bust.
Yarn: Tahki Donegal Tweed (100% wool; 183 yd (167 m)/110 g): #803 yellow-green OR #869 dark-taupe (brown): 6 (7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 18, 20) skeins.
Yarn weight: #4 - Medium
Gauge: 17 sts and 24 rows = 4" in St st on larger needles.
Needles: Sizes 6 (4 mm) and 8 (5 mm) needles, or size to achieve gauge, Size 6 (4 mm): 32-40" circular needle
Notions: Cable needle (cn), Stitch markers, Stitch holders, Yarn needle, Buttons (optional), Crochet hook (optional)
Originally Published: Knitscene, Fall 2006

Since this is a big sweater, the KAL will last until the end of October, so check in to the new Knit-a-Long forum and let's start swatching together (yes, swatching, not knitting the actual pieces until we all get gauge!).

Get Your Free Ribby Slipper Pattern!

To celebrate the end (for some of us) of the Monkey Sock KAL, here's a free sock pattern: Ribby Slipper Socks by Cathy Carron. These are on my list for Christmas for my nephew, and I might add a doggie face or something like that because nephew Henry loves animal slippers! (You'll also find five other patterns when you download the Ribby Slipper Socks because it's part of our free ebook Easy Knits: 6 Free Easy Knitting Patterns from Knitting Daily.) Download your free eBook today and don't forget to forward this email on to friends who could also use some free easy knitting patterns!

Cheers!

Kathleen

By the way, I had the honor of meeting Cookie A. at the Sock Summit. See how thrilled I am to see her? She was gracious and so glad to hear about our KAL with the Monkey Sock. Hers was one of the longest lines in the book signing area, and I was happy to stand and knit my way to the end of it.

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Knitting Tip: Counting Cable Rows (and the Heather Hoodie Vest)

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

I think we might have an instant classic on our hands, folks! The response to the Heather Hoodie Vest from the fall 2009 Knitscene is causing a stir all over the web and in LYSs--and basically anywhere knitters and Knitscene meet!

People are comparing the vest to the venerable Central Park Hoodie, which so many of you have knit and loved, and I think the Heather Hoodie Vest deserves the comparison.

With its lovely cable detailing amid swaths of clean stockinette, the Heather Hoodie Vest will be flattering on many bodies. I really love how the hood grows organically out of the stockinette section on the back of the vest, with that wide ribbing all around the edges to the button band. I really like the tone-on-tone buttons, too, but I know there are people out there who are going to jazz it up with some fab button choices, or maybe even a zipper instead of buttons.

And Lamb's Pride Bulky is so nice to work with--that slight mohair aura is really beautiful, and at 3.5 stitches to the inch, the vest is a fast knit, too. The Lamb's Pride Bulky color choices are almost endless--good luck deciding on a colorway!

This kind of casual styling is perfect for fall; I can imagine wearing this vest to a football game in early October, for instance, or to the last of the farmers' markets before they close for the winter.

The cable work on this project isn't difficult, but there is a technique from this issue of Knitscene that I want to share with you.

Counting rows is something that we come across all the time in knitting, and it's usually an easy task. In stockinette stitch, you simply count a column of knit stitches and each stitch in the column counts as one row.

In reverse stockinette stitch, you count each purl bump in a column, and each bump counts as one row.

In garter stitch, each garter ridge equals two rows, so you count each ridge and multiply by two.

I always knit the first and last stitch of any garment piece, which makes for easy seaming because it gives you a nice garter column at each edge, and I can count the rows easily since each of the bumps at the edge equals two rows just like each garter ridge in a garter stitch project equals two rows.

So I'll bet you're thinking "Counting rows--why is she talking about this, it's so easy!" Well, I'm talking about it because I want to pass on some tricks from Kristin Roach about counting your rows in a cable, which, if you've done cable work, you know isn't as easy as it sounds.

All patterns call for cable crossings to be done every such-and-such number of rows, but it's difficult to count rows from a crossing because the stitches are distorted when they're pulled across each other. I never used to be sure exactly which row was the crossed row, but I'm confident in my counting after reading these tips in Kristin's Knitscene article.

Place the tip of your needle at the hole in your cable (where it twists). That is your cable row. From there you can count rows up or down (see the illustration at left). Count each V from the row after the crossing row (where the point of your needle is) including the stitches on your needle-here there are 5 rows after the cable row. You don't want to count the cross row itself if you are trying to determine how many rows have been worked since the cross.

You can also place a stitch marker in the last stitch of the cable when you work your cable cross row. Count the Vs worked since the marked stitch to check which row you're on. Just remember to place a new marker each time you work a cross row. If you're working multiple traveling cables, this is very helpful. Place a stitch marker in each cable.

Thanks, Kristin, I know we'll use this tip a lot.

Happy counting!

--Kathleen

Knit Cardigan Patterns From Knitting Daily: 7 FREE Knitting Patterns

Every knitter has dreamed of the perfect cardigan pattern that he or she might knit some day. From a cozy cable knit to luminous lace, this free ebook will be your dream come true. This is a wonderful and varied collection of cardigans-which is one of the most important pieces in your wardrobe. You'll want to make every one of these knit cardigan patterns, so download your free eBook now and get started (and don’t forget to tell a friend so they can enjoy their own copy!).

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Knitting Tech: Reversible Cables and the Rivulet Scarf

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:23:00 GMT

When I see an Aran sweater my heart skips a beat. Oh, how I want to knit one of those beautiful, heavily cabled and patterned beauties. I've seen so many variations of the Aran sweater, but one of my favorites is this lovely cardigan jobbie--the Pewter Coat. I'm thinking of making this in the fall, but the Central Park Hoodie is next on the list, so the Pewter Coat will be second (or maybe third after a scarf that I just bought yarn for. . .). I guess the Central Park Hoodie is sort of an Aran project, though, with all of those cable sections.

And Another Thing About Cables . . .

I've been bombarding you with info on how to knit cables, and this post is no exception! In the new issue of Knits, there's a fab scarf by Rebecca Daniels, the Rivulet Scarf (click here for the free pattern) which is a wonderful cabled piece that looks great on both sides--something you don't see often in a cabled scarf. In fact, I once knit a cabled scarf project and did one end frontwards and one end backwards so that when I wrapped the scarf around my neck both of the cable fronts showed. I knit half of the scarf and then reversed the pattern so I was knitting the right side rows on the wrong side. I'm nothing if not determined!

I think you'll agree with me that most knitters love a well-placed cable, and with the reversible Rivulet Scarf, you don't have to go to drastic lengths like I did to get a cabled scarf to look good on both sides. (If you're new to cabling, see this Knitting Daily post for a basic cable video tutorial).

In most cabled projects, the cables are placed next to sections of stockinette stitch, reverse stockinette stitch, seed stitch, or some other background. This is necessary to make the cables stand out; if your cables are in stockinette and the background of the project is also stockinette, the cables blend a bit. (Some patterns call for this, but it's usually not the norm in cabled projects.) Because of this patterning, cabled projects are NOT reversible. In fact, the wrong side looks just plain weird--the cable crossings look like lumps in the fabric and it's obvious that you're looking at the back of the patterned panels (unless they're seed stitch or some other reversible pattern).

Making cables reversible uses one of those techniques that when you see what it is, you say, "Of course! Why didn't I think of that?" All you do is knit the cable in 1 X 1rib--there's no right or wrong side, just like in any 1 X 1 rib project: a waistband, cuffs, a collar, or even a whole ribbed sweater. You can't really see the rib on a reversible cable--you have to stretch it out to see the purls--but it makes a really dense, warm fabric. The 1 X 1 rib naturally pulls in on itself, hiding the purls, (which are actually the knitted stitches that show on the back of the scarf) and that's the magic of the reversible cable.

This scarf is a great knit for many reasons, but one of them is that the gauge--worsted weight on size 9 needles--makes it a really fast and rewarding project. Use the called-for yarn or try something with a little sheen--maybe a silk if you want a "cooler" scarf, or even a sock yarn for a finer guage. You can use any gauge for this pattern, you'll just have to cast on more stitches if you use a finer yarn.

For Your Viewing Pleasure

We feature the Rivulet Scarf on Knitting Daily TV this season, as an example of how to knit reversible cables. Here's that segment, with Eunny Jang, editor of Interweave Knits, showing you how to knit a reversible cable.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

This clip is from Knitting Daily TV episode 301, which airs on your public television station. Click here to order the DVDs, or here to get a programming schedule. And click here to see more than 30 new free patterns from series 300 of KDTV!

Happy cabling!

--Kathleen

P.S. Check out the new Inside Knits and Inside Knitscene blogs!

Knit Cardigan Patterns From Knitting Daily: 7 FREE Knitting Patterns

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Knitscene: Fall 2009 Preview

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:41:00 GMT

A note from Kathleen: It's here! It's here! The new issue of Knitscene is available at your local yarn shop or bookstore as we speak. This issue is absolutely full of cutting-edge designs and information that you'll all want to have at your fingertips as you start your fall knitting. I have a huge bag of alpaca that's been mocking me for months now, and I think I've found the perfect project: the Emerald Isle Cardigan by Melissa Wherle. I need a new fall jacket and I love the cuff detail on this beauty. I really need that alpaca to get off my back, too, so I'm going to talk to it tonight about its new incarnation.

Knitscene editor extraordinaire Lisa Shroyer is here to introduce this jam-packed issue, and we're starting a Knitscene blog, too, so check KnittingDaily.com to see the first post in "Inside Knitscene." Lisa and other Knitscene folks will share insight into what makes Knitscene so special. Lisa is also going to post occasionally about upsizing patterns from Interweave Knits and Knitscene (Lisa brought us the plus-sized version of The Central Park Hoodie), and talk about myriad techniques, patterns, and interesting knitterly topics.

So here's Lisa!

I love this new Knitscene. From graphic colorwork to looping cables to simple plains of stockinette, these projects really hit that sweet spot of chic and oh-my-goodness-I-have-to-knit-that. If you're a knitter who enjoys each and every stitch, you'll find engaging patterns here. If you're a knitwear maven, like our own Kate Sonnick (Stylespotting), you'll find trend-relevant and wearable pieces. The projects range from beginner to intermediate, with most patterns falling in the advanced-easy category.

The photoshoot for this issue took place over a dreary, rainy, snowy week in April, in Denver, Colorado. Because of the weather, we shot a lot of the projects in the studio. I love working in the studio--the photos are all about the knitted garments. There's no distraction. And the final look is so clean and contemporary.

When we weren't in the studio, we shot at the Loveland Feed & Grain, an 1890s agricultural building in historic Loveland, Colorado. The peeling paint on brick, the rusted metal, the railroad tracks, all slick with rain that April day, lent a sense of history and romantic grit to the projects in the Graphic Elements story. Though the weather made for miserable working conditions, the final images really capture a kind of drama--from the cloud cover and the models being freezing but gritting their teeth through it! I wouldn't change a thing, now. Of course, it's July in the South where I am right now, and those April temperatures are a distant memory.

What is Knitscene?

Knitscene is a special magazine that comes out twice a year from Interweave, featuring easy, stylish projects that are fun to make. We work with themed storylines in Knitscene; in this issue, we present:

+ Contemporary Cables: Unusual cabled projects, including reversible scarves
+ Graphic Elements: Feminine yet graphically modern knits
+ Fall Session: His and hers casual outer wear
+ Unusual Wools: Tape yarns and tubular constructions make unusual fabrics

Features, Articles, and Technique Highlights

+ Profile on blogger and designer Melissa Wehrle, with four new exclusive designs
+ Technical Articles: Learn to count rows in a cable and read a lace chart
+ Stylespotting: Fashion knit-blogger Kate Sonnick walks us through the culture of the Cowichan

Enjoy the preview!

--Lisa

Find the new issue of Knitscene at your LYS, bookstore, or order it here.

Early Sneak Peek: Knitscene Fall 2009

KD Sandi — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:34:00 GMT

Note from Sandi: It's almost that time of year again--Knitscene time! Twice a year, we get to delight in the pages of a knitting magazine unlike any other--in the words of its editor, Lisa Shroyer: simple, stylish, spirited. Some wonderful and unexpected designs come out of this magazine, and so I am delighted to have Editor Lisa here to give us the inside scoop on what's ahead for us in the upcoming Fall 2009 issue of Knitscene...This is an exclusive sneak peek for our wonderful Knitting Daily readers, as the actual preview won't be released until the week of July 21st. So heeeeeeerrrrrrree's Lisa--enjoy!

Working on Knitscene is a peculiar experience for me. Most of the year I’m a back-room editor—crunching numbers on patterns, managing shot lists at photoshoots… Important work for sure, but not sexy. Then twice a year, this little magazine floats into my world and I get to play Editor with a big E. Play may be the wrong verb—it’s a lot of work—but it’s also a lot of fun.

As an editor grounded in knitting patterns, what’s my vision for this magazine?
-    The projects have to be about knitting more than anything else.
-    They need to be alluring and fun to make.
-    They need to celebrate yarn.
-    They need to be simple in construction but effective as fashion.

There are some designs in this issue that hit these points exceedingly—check out the Hollywood Herringbone Pullover by Kate Gagnon. It’s a cute, wearable project, worked in a sumptuous worsted-weight. Knitting the mosaic front piece is easy—instead of fussing with stranded colorwork in rows, Kate has chosen a slip-stitch two-color pattern that creates the look of Fair Isle. I love this sweater, from a stylistic and technical standpoint.

The Flourish Vest by Katya Wilsher is a tunic-length V-neck vest which will flatter lots of women, and the undulating cables are so much fun to work. Mixing up charts of differently-sized repeats is all it takes. In a true Aran weight, the knitting is quick.

Also in the Contemporary Cables section, we have two reversible scarves. So many knitters love cabled scarves, but detest the one-sided look. Try mixing knits and purls in a cable pattern to get a dual-sided effect!

All of these designers have worked hard to create projects that make sense technically, that are simple and fun to make, and that hit that sweet spot of chic and not-too-trendy. I hope you enjoy.

Also in this issue:
- Melissa Wehrle reinvents the boyfriend sweater
- Funky-construction wool yarns for rockstar looks
- How To: Read Lace Charts
- How To: Count rows between crosses in a cable
- Cowichan cool—the history of the trend and how to wear it

Look for the Knitscene online preview the week of July 21st; meanwhile, you can pre-order your copy now!

-- Lisa Shroyer

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? Houston, we have a row of stars on the Star Light, Star Bright baby blankie! Now it's a few rows of stockinette and then it's to the stars, baby, to the stars...

Welcome to the NEW Knitting Daily!

KD Sandi — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:12:00 GMT

Welcome to our new home--and yours!

For a while now, we've been working on moving Knitting Daily into a larger, prettier online home for everyone, with more goodies, more features, and more room to grow! And so today, with much pleasure, we are opening the doors and inviting you in to have a look around and find your favorite places, old and new!

A few highlights of the new Knitting Daily home:

Reader Galleries: That's right! You asked for them, and here they are, your very own place to upload your knitting photos and show off your stuff! You can even post your YouTube videos! I can't wait to see what you've been working on.

Blogs: Not only can you still find the familiar Knitting Daily blogs and tutorials, you'll soon be able to read blogs from your favorite magazine editors such as Eunny Jang, editor of Interweave Knits and Lisa Shroyer, editor of Knitscene, as well as exciting guest bloggers. There will also be a blog from yours truly chronicling my own knitting adventures, an expansion of the popular "What's on Sandi's Needles?" section.

Videos: Knitting videos and how-tos from Knitting Daily TV and your favorite Interweave editors. Let the experts show you how!

Patterns tab: Take a look! (I love this part.) Here you can find individual listings--with photos!--of every pattern published back through 2007 in Interweave Knits, Knitscene, Felt, and Holiday Gifts, as well as the free patterns appearing on Knitting Daily TV and the Knitting Daily website! We're continuing to load older issues as fast as we can, so eventually you'll have an entire "catalog" of all Interweave patterns to browse through. Each pattern's listing will indicate whether it is free, available for sale in our pattern store, or no longer available; each listing will have yarn information, sizing, links to errata (if necessary) and a place for you to tell us what you think about the pattern.

An updated FAQ and Help section: A great place to find answers to all sorts of questions, from downloads to tags. There's a lot of helpful information here, so check this out if you need some help.

Community Center Feedback Forum: This is the place to tell us what you think of the new Knitting Daily site! Don't be shy, come on in and share your thoughts.

We’ve had many people do the heavy lifting to get KD ready for move-in day. We’ve moved almost everything from the old place, but now, some of those things may be found in different rooms. And just like moving into a real home, we’ll get the rest of the boxes unpacked, a little every day.

So welcome to the new Knitting Daily--and look for more goodies to come as we continue to "unpack our boxes" and get all the furniture moved into just the right place. Please leave a comment in the forums and let us know what you think! After all, this is your new home too. I hope you like it as much as we do.

-- Sandi Wiseheart
editor, KnittingDaily.com

Two Freebies! Entrelac Tutorial and Easy Entrelac Scarf Pattern

KD Sandi — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:36:00 GMT

One of the best entrelac tutorials I've ever seen is the Beyond the Basics article written by Eunny Jang in the Spring 2007 issue of Interweave Knits. Since entrelac can be a bit tough to explain, here's an excerpt from that article:

Entrelac fabric's series of tilted blocks are worked one at a time in tiers. Individual blocks may be worked over any number of stitches, and a piece may have any number of individual blocks.

In all cases, each block contains twice as many rows as it does stitches. Though the basic entrelac technique has several variations, the method described in this article produces tidy results.

When you practice entrelac for the first time, try working every other tier of blocks in a different color to emphasize the basketweave effect and make it easier to identify the block and live stitches of each tier.

Note: When you work the first stitch of every row, you can slip it for a tidy pickup edge, but be aware that you will lose some elasticity in the knitted piece.

In fact, that whole article is so good that here it is as a free Friday treat for all you nice Knitting Daily members:

Free download! Eunny Jang's Beyond the Basics: Entrelac Knitting Block by Block

Free pattern: Entrelac Scarf for Beginners
from Lisa Shroyer, editor of Knitscene

If you’re new to entrelac and need a basic pattern to get started, you’re in luck! I just started an easy scarf and thought it would make a great beginner entrelac project. I made up the instructions based on Eunny Jang’s Beyond the Basics article on entrelac, so if you have that article, following the pattern will be a good exercise.

You’ll see I haven’t finished the scarf, but it’s such a quick knit I should be able to complete it before the weather changes here in the Northeast. Enjoy!

Download Lisa's Easy Entrelac Scarf Pattern
.

And a final entrelac tip from Lisa:

When picking up stitches along the selvedge of a block, try to pick up the first and last stitches as close to the ends of the block as possible—i.e., pick up stitches in the “corners” as much as possible, to avoid holes in those corners between blocks.

Look for another lovely beginner-level entrelac pattern in the new Winter 2008/Spring 2009 issue of Knitscene--the Orchid Wrap, by Cecily Glowik Macdonald.

For those already in love with entrelac, you can purchase Eunny’s Entrelac Socks and Sandy Beadle’s Annetrelac Socks from the Knitting Daily Pattern Store.

-- Lisa Shroyer
editor of Knitscene magazine

Ask for Knitscene at your local yarn shop, or buy it online from us.

Have a knitting or crochet question? Ask the experts!

One of our favorite features on the Knitting Daily TV show is the segment called "You Asked It" where hosts Eunny Jang, Kim Werker, Liz Gipson, and Shay Pendray answer questions from our viewers. (That's YOU!)

So get your questions ready, because we're getting ready to tape the all-new third season of Knitting Daily TV!

Do you wonder how to work the Kitchener stitch in a cabled pattern? Do you want to know how to weave in ends properly? Want to know which yarn is best for the longest-wearing mittens? Ask Knitting Daily TV!

Send us your questions, and our producers might just choose yours to answer on the air!

Questions can be emailed to YouAskedIt@knittingdailytv.com.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? Suddenly, I have become addicted to warm hats and I am obsessed with the idea of warm mittens...

You asked for it: Entrelac!

KD Sandi — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:10:00 GMT

Note from Sandi: When I asked you how you were a Fearless Knitter in 2008, hundreds of you described not only what you had accomplished last year, but what you hoped to accomplish in 2009. And surprisingly, one of the top four knitting challenges you wanted to tackle was entrelac, that marvelous and seemingly mysterious technique where knitted square builds upon knitted square to form a lovely on-the-bias patchwork effect.

So I was delighted to find out that Lisa Shroyer, editor of Knitscene magazine, has included a lovely beginner-level entrelac pattern in the new Winter 2008/Spring 2009 issue of Knitscene--the Orchid Wrap, by Cecily Glowik Macdonald.

Here's Lisa to tell us more about this beautiful knitting technique:

Entrelac: An Overview

When Sandi asked me to choose one project from the new issue of Knitscene to feature this week, I went back and looked at the comments on past Knitting Daily posts. What one technique did so many of you say you wanted to conquer in 2009?

ENTRELAC.

And it just so happens that we have a fabulous entrelac project in the Winter 2008/Spring 2009 issue of Knitscene. The Orchid Wrap by Cecily Glowik MacDonald is a great project for entrelac newbies, as it’s a long rectangle without the complexities of shaping, stitch patterns, or working in the round. Working entrelac in the round is, conceptually, a little daunting, so I don’t recommend it for first-timers.

But what is entrelac? Eunny Jang, editor of Interweave Knits, writes:
"Entrelac is a knitting technique that produces a fabric with a woven appearance—tiers of tilting blocks appear to run over and under each other. But the fabric is actually worked all in one piece as a series of interconnecting rectangles."

These interconnecting rectangles are worked one at a time, with lots of turning back and forth to work short right- and wrong-side rows. The rectangles, or blocks, are worked in tiers, building a vertical fabric. All the blocks of a single tier slant in one direction (i.e., to the right), then all the blocks of the following tier slant in the opposite direction (or to the left). You can pick out separate tiers in the Orchid Wrap because this project alternates a tier of teal blocks with a tier of pink blocks. Changing colors in entrelac is easy and creates really fun effects.

To work entrelac, you need to know how to:
1) Pick up and PURL stitches;
2) Pick up and KNIT stitches:
3) Work basic increases; and
4) Work basic decreases.
And that’s the extent of the know-how you need to make the Orchid Wrap.

The Orchid Wrap is, like I said, a simple rectangle in shape. But wrap it around your shoulders, folding back the top selvedge like a collar, button it asymmetrically, and you have a capelet. The size can be adjusted with the placement of the buttons, so it’s really a one-size-fits-most project.

For an in-depth tutorial on entrelac, including instructions for working entrelac in the round, see Eunny Jang’s "Beyond the Basics: Entrelac Knitting Block by Block" from the Spring 2007 issue of Interweave Knits. (Click here to subscribe to Knits.)

For those already in love with entrelac, you can purchase Eunny’s Entrelac Socks and Sandy Beadle’s Annetrelac Socks from the Knitting Daily Pattern Store.

On Friday, we’ll have a surprise for you…

-- Lisa Shroyer
editor of Knitscene magazine

Ask for Knitscene at your local yarn shop, or buy it online from us.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? Suddenly, I have become addicted to warm hats and I am obsessed with the idea of warm mittens...

Preview Time! Knitscene Winter 2008/Spring 2009

KD Sandi — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:18:00 GMT

Note from Sandi: Ever met a knitter who just made you want to stare at her hands as her needles flew along? That's how I felt the first time I saw Lisa Shroyer, the editor of Knitscene magazine, knit. She's a thrower, she does amazing colorwork, and she's wicked fast with the needles. Lisa knits more stitches in a day than I knit in a week!

All that knitting seems to have given Lisa an deep affinity for what knit and purl stitches can do--she seems to have a homing instinct when it comes to finding great designs. Lucky us!

For example: See that pretty rainbow yoked sweater by Carol Sulcoski? Looks like a lot of stripes and ends to weave in, right? Nope. That's Noro Kureyon, a variegated yarn, and the colors change all by themselves. Clever--and Lisa chose it for one of the designs in the new Winter 2008/Spring 2009 issue of Knitscene magazine.

Here's Lisa to tell you more of what's in the new issue of Knitscene:

It's a new issue of Knitscene!

Knitscene is a special issue that comes out twice a year. We feature simple, stylish, and free-spirited designs that will appeal to a wide range of knitters. Most of the projects in Knitscene are easy to make, falling in the easy and advanced easy categories. If you want a quick-to-knit sweater with a hip silhouette, Knitscene is the magazine for you!

In this issue, we explore:

The classic combo of sweaters and denim—these designs look great with jeans
Whimsical knits for spring—luscious fibers, modern shapes, girly details
Rustic yarns and great outerwear pieces
Chunky yarns for fast (and economical!) accessories
Crochet accessories that feature a bit of knitting for the multi-crafter
The art of spinning with a drop spindle
Buttonholes and how to plan your buttonbands
The knitting world of designer Cathy Carron, with 4 new designs by Cathy
How to incorporate one vest project into your wardrobe to make 3 different fashion statements

I hope you enjoy this issue of Knitscene as much as I enjoyed working on it. Check out the preview and let us know what you think of the designs.

On Wednesday, we'll look in depth at the fabulous Orchid Wrap by Cecily Glowik MacDonald and talk about…entrelac!

-- Lisa Shroyer
editor of Knitscene magazine

Here is what designers are saying about Knitscene:

Designing for Knitscene is an absolute pleasure. The projects are accessible and fun at the same time. Forever Tweed, for example, is one of those sweaters a newbie can knit with ease, and a fun project for more experienced knitters looking for a quick, stylish sweater project!
—Wendy Bernard

I’ve always loved the way Knitscene features projects that are easy to knit but don’t necessarily look it! (And of course the fact that the photographs are shot in the Philadelphia area, where I live, is an extra bonus. Go Eagles!)
—Carol J. Sulcoski (author of Knit So Fine and Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn)

I love the challenge of creating a fun project that is interesting, and yet, easy. Most of my projects tend to become advanced because I cannot stop myself from throwing in one or two more techniques, and with Knitscene I like the challenge to edit myself to keep the projects easy. For me, there is nothing more fun then working up a project that at heart is easy, and turns into a knock-out.
—Robyn Chachula (author of Blueprint Crochet: Modern Designs for the Visual Crocheter)

Ask for Knitscene at your local yarn shop, or buy it online from us.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? Still on the sleeves for my sister's Central Park Hoodie--working both at once on a long circular needle. (Yes, I did swap out the cable because I'm Just That Way.) But I also must admit to casting on for a warm hat, because it's Canada, and there's all this white stuff outside, and it's actually rather chilly white stuff.

Our Gift to You: Free Sock Knitting Pattern eBook

KD Sandi — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:23:00 GMT

Introducing Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

I don't have any magic words to help you get all your holiday knitting done on time. (Sorry about that.) But it's Friday, and since everyone around here is busy handing out gifts, I decided I wanted to have a gift for all my Knitting Daily friends, too.

And you know I am a sock knitting fiend. So the gift I came up with is a free eBook of sock patterns!

I know, I know, it really is not fair to tempt you with one more nifty pattern--let alone FIVE more nifty patterns!--when it is eight days before the Big Jolly Dude comes down the chimney, but the free pattern elves just couldn't contain themselves. (Are the free pattern elves kind of like Hogwarts house elves? I think they must be.) I chose five of our top sock knitting downloads on Knitting Daily and put them all together in one FREE ebook for you.

So what kind of socks are in this eBook? Let's see. I tried to include a little something for everyone:

For the lace fiends amongst you, there's Ann Budd's delicate lacy Seduction Socks. For a cozy treat after shoveling the driveway, how about a pair of gorgeous colorwork socks--the Caspian Sea Socks by Priscilla Gibson-Roberts? For every day wear, or for the man in your life, there's the richly cabled William Street Socks by Lisa Shroyer: or the classicly textured Diagonal Rib Socks by Ann Budd. And for a quick, easy project, try the beginner sock pattern--large needles and large yarn!--called Comfy Socks, brought to you by the talented folks over at Knitscene magazine.

I hope this weekend finds you enjoying your family and friends--with perhaps a bit of knitting in hand--surrounded by warmth and joy.

-- Sandi

Download Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? Last center repeat is done! Now I get to pick up, oh, 1400 stitches? and start the border on my Leaf and Nupp Shawl from Knitted Lace of Estonia by Nancy Bush. (I love this pattern. Have I mentioned that I LOVE this pattern?)

Giving Thanks To Those Who Bring Us Beautiful Knitting

KD Sandi — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:43:00 GMT

I’m between Thanksgivings right now—Canada, my new home, has already celebrated theirs, and the U.S., where my family lives, celebrates theirs next week. I kind of like having an entire season of gratitude, instead of just a week or so; it helps me to reflect on ALL the good things that have happened this past year.

One good thing that happened last year is that I got to be part of something special, something new in the Interweave family: the Knitting Daily Pattern Store, which opened one year ago next month. That might sound hokey and market-y, so let me tell you why the Pattern Store is special to me—and to all of us here at Interweave. The pattern store allows us to contribute to the health and growth of the knitting community in two new ways:

First: We can “open up the archives” and make hundreds of out-of-print patterns available (with errata included), in an inexpensive format accessible anywhere in the world (no international shipping costs!).

Second: We can support our hard-working designers with ongoing royalties from pattern store sales. Designers are the heart and soul of our products; their creativity compels us to pick up our needles, hooks and yarn everyday. Designing a knitting (or crochet!) pattern is a LOT of work; we are committed to doing business in a way that compensates this creative work fairly.

How does the pattern store support the designers so they can continue to bring us such wonderful designs?

Over 400 patterns are currently available for sale in the KD store, many of them hugely popular favorites from long unavailable back issues of Interweave Knits, Knitscene, Interweave Crochet, and Knits Gifts. We ONLY sell patterns online if the designer has given permission for us to do so; the designers get to decide which of their patterns go into the store, as well as how much to charge for their pattern. Over 200 designers are signed up for Interweave's online profit-sharing arrangements; several popular patterns have already earned their designers many times over the original design fee. Designers retain the copyrights to their designs; they can choose the contract arrangement that works best for their needs—and the options allow them to earn up to 50% of the price of each pattern on top of what they were paid for the design to appear in print.

As we get ready to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Knitting Daily Pattern Store, I would like to take a moment to say a huge—and well-deserved—THANK YOU to each and every designer who has chosen to participate in our new online adventure.

Designers: We’re proud to offer your work for sale; we’re proud to support you in such a tangible way; and we’re grateful for the beauty, fun, and challenges you bring to our knitting lives each day. Thank you. Thank you for every wonderful stitch!

Here are the designers you support when you buy from the Knitting Daily Pattern Store: Pam Allen, Erica Alexander, Jennifer Appleby, Veronik Avery, Sarah Barbour, Teri Barr, Tonia Barry, Karen Baumer, Caroline Bautista, Sandy Beadle, Alice Bell, Amanda Berka, Phoenix Bess, Marlaina (Marly) Bird, Gwen Blakley-Kinsler, Cat Bordhi, Deb Brandt, Kelly Bridges, Dawn Brocco, Carol Brown, Monica Welle Brown, Beth Brown-Reinsel, Ann Budd, Olga Buraya-Kefelian, Silka Burgoyne, Nancy Bush, MK Carroll, Cathy Carron, Robyn Chachula, Doris Chan, Connie Chang Chinchio, Donna Childs, Lily M. Chin, Kenny Chua, Therese Chynoweth, Amy Clarke Moore, Marie Connolly, Kat Coyle, Celeste Culpepper, Sandy Cushman, Carol Cypher, Lisa Daehlin, Rhonda Davis, Judith Dern, Valentina Devine, Luanda Diaz-Santiago, Joy Doss, Sharon Dreifuss, Donna Druchunas, Judith Durant, Teva Durham, Edie Eckman, Fiona Ellis, Jodi Euchner, Lisa Evans, Hannah Fettig, Jared Flood, Sara Foster, Catherine Gagnon, Chrissy Gardiner, Lynn Gates, Norah Gaughan, Lorinda Gayle, Laura Gebhardt, Mary Ann Gebhardt, Mary Gehling, Priscilla Gibson-Roberts, Pam Gillette, Cecily Glowik, Faina Goberstein, Laurie Gonyea, Ellen Gormley, Megan Granholm, Laura Grutzeck, Jennifer Hagan, Angela Hahn, Alice Halbeisen, Robin Hansen, Edna Hart, Beryl Hiatt, Katie Himmelberg, Amie Hirtes, Sarah Hoadley, Amy O'Neil Houck, Nicholette Hoyer, Margaret Hubert, Marikka Hughes, Melinda Hunt, Laura Irwin, Kate Jackson, Eunny Jang, Stefanie Japel, Kathleen Power Johnson, Sasha Kagan, Michelle Katerberg, Donna Kay, Helen Klebesadel, Erika Knight, Joanne Frantz, Kate Kuckro, Marji LaFreniere, Jennifer Lang, Susan Pierce Lawrence, Nguyen Le, Dawn Leeseman, Faina Letoutchaia, Alexandra Lockhart, Heather Lodinsky, Elizabeth Lovick, Sara Lucas, Anne Kuo Lukito, Nancy Marchant, Marta McCall, Joan McGowan-Michael, Colleen Meagher, Sheryl Means, Robin Melanson, Sally Melville, Simona Merchant-Dest, Kathy Merrick, Marty Miller, Melissa Mitchell, Annie Modesitt, Charlotte Morris, Marilyn Murphy, Lela Nargi, Lisa Naskrent, Nancy Nehring, Deborah Newton, Cheryl Niamath, Kristin Nicholas, Liz Nields, Chloe Nightingale, Ruthie Nussbaum, Elin Nybo, Sharon O'Brien, Kristin Omdahl, Michele Rose Orne, Jennifer Pace, Maggie Pace, Shirley Paden, Mari Lynn Patrick, Gryphon Perkins, Annette Petavy, Marcy Petrini, Lindy Phelps, Andrea Pomerantz, Leslie Pope, Christina Marie Potter, Moira Ravenscroft, Carol Rhoades, Sean Riley, Laura Rintala, Joelle Meier Rioux, Beverly Roberts, Rachel Roberts, Gayle Roehm, Wren Ross, Mary Rowe, Karen Rumpza, Robin Russo, Katy Ryan, Sophia Sallas-Brookwell, Mareike Sattler, Theresa Schabes, Lou Schiela, Kristi Schueler, Charlene Schurch, Ron Schweitzer, Emilee Mooney Scott, Amy Shimel, Sharon Shoji, Lisa Shroyer, Robin Shroyer, Ann Smith, Becca Smith, Lise Solvang, Meema Spadola, Kristin Spurkland, Tracy St. John, Caitlin Stevens, Elissa Sugishita, Carol Sulcoski, Judy Sumner, Carol Sunday, Judith L. Swartz, Sarah Swett, Jennifer Tallapaneni, Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark, Cindy Taylor, Mary Beth Temple, Kristen TenDyke, Sara Tobias, Kennita Tully, Julie Turjoman, Takako Ueki, Julia Vaconsin, Carol Ventura, Kathy Veeza, Laura Wallins, Melissa Wehrle, Margaret Goeden Whan, Alison Green Will, Harriet Wintermute, Sandi Wiseheart, Fronia Wissman, Jill Wright, Lois Young, Diane Zangl, Victoria Zygas, Shayna Zelko, and last but never least, Kathy Zimmerman!

Save 25% on the best patterns from Interweave Knits!

The work of twenty-one of our community's best designers is featured in The Best of Interweave Knits: Our Favorite Designs from the First Ten Years. Are you a Kate Gilbert fan? Two of her designs are in this book! How about Veronik Avery? Three of hers are in here, along with patterns from Debbie Bliss, Miriam Felton, Ann Budd, Norah Gaughan, Kathy Zimmerman, and more. To honor our amazing designers, this book is now 25% off in our online store until December 5th as our special holiday gift to you.

What's on Sandi's needles? I really did not intend to get so caught up in Nancy Bush's Leaf and Nupp Shawl (from our new book Knitted Lace of Estonia) that it would push everything else out of the way--but that's what happened. I was travelling this week, and somehow I managed to get six of the fourteen center repeats done in only a week's time. It's so much fun to see the lace pattern growing so quickly...however, now I am in a bit of a pickle. All the women members of my family whom I am visiting are pointedly discussing what color they would like their shawl to be...